“Basically, my approach is to decorate appropriately for the kind of like that takes place in a room,” says interior designer Florence de Dampierre. “It all goes back to having a sense of humor in how you combine things and cultivating an adventurous use of color.” In our take on her white-and-lavender conservatory featured in Susan Sully’s Past Present: Living with Heirlooms and Antiques, a slipcovered sofa anchors a mod- traditional mix that includes a graphic area rug, a metallic tree-trunk table, a British Regency–inspired armchair, and an antique Italian urn. Soothing and surprising, lilac is a natural complement to greenery in the summer and pops against snow in the winter. Pair a few bright bursts with soft shades—just like the flower—for truly radiant results.